Australian Greens MP Adam Bandt called for the prime minister to intervene, saying the government needed to increase its diplomatic efforts.

Independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie said Mr Russell's continued detention was a "bitter blow" that made federal government intervention "all the more pressing".

"The British prime minister and German chancellor have already spoken to the Russian president to express their concerns with the continued detention of the Greenpeace activists and it is beyond time for Tony Abbott to do the same," Mr Wilkie said in a statement.